Saint Mary's beacon. [volume] (Leonard Town, Md.) 1867-1983, 1887-08-11

nv can communicate virus from an
open sore, and can carry this from one
person to another. This may not be
credited, but it has been proved by
direct experiment to be not only pos
sible, but an actual fact. The COM
mon house fly, By lighting on de-
ceased spot, either in an animal or
man. and thence passing to healthy
subject, has been known to impart the
Infection to the latter. Whether the
poisonous matter be an animal virus
or q germ of disease, a bacillus, does
not matter; and in this connection it
is we'll to speak Of other common
methods Of possible disease infection.
A postage stamp may In various
ways convey contagion. One OF the
simplest and most plausible is that in
which a postage stamp, partially at
tached TO letter to pay return post
age, is sent by person infected with
some disease to another person. The
disease is transferred, in the first place
to the adhesive stamp, through the
saliva, and in being attached to the
letter by the receiver the poison may
be transmitted to him in turn through
the saliva.
Another cause may be the infection
of the stamp with disease germs. The
stamp, having been exposed in a room
where q diseased person lies, may be.
come slightly moistened and thus re-
tain the germ. That this is true can
he proved very simply by micros'
copical examination. 1t is even pos
sible that an active and tangible poi
son, as arsenic, may accidentally or
Intentionally be attached.
We often see person holding change
for q moment in the mouth, probably
not knowing that investigation has
shown that disease germs can be car
ried by money. If one could see
through what hands the money has
passed, they would hesitate before u.s.
ing such a third hand. Silver money
is as bad as paper money; but while
many would hesitate to hold dirty
bank note in their mouth, they think
that silver piece, because bright, is
apparently clean.
Cigars may convey contagion, espe-
cially syphilis. We have seen a note
in which physician gave as an excuse
for not loaning light to friend, that
he was afraid of contagion; but if he
was go afraid he should have been
consistent and refused to smoke the
cigar. Cigar wrappers are in the
cigar factories, and especially in Cuba,
moistened with the lips and tongue,
and the girls who roll the wrappers
are by no means of the highest repu-
tation. Disease can be carried in this
way. Tobacco, contrary to the COM
mon belief, does not destroy disease
germs, and smoking will not confer
immunity from contagion.
Any one who uses towel in COM
mon with the public, or a piece Of
soap. or brush or comb, or any requi-
site Of the toilet, runs the risk OF pos.
sible infection. The subject OF anti
sepsis, simply another word for clean.
illness, has not necessarily brought to
light many new facts, but has set peo-
pie to thinking Of old ones. The germ
theory of disease is to most people a
very vague one.
There is a general idea that disease
Is carried by germs, and that the air
is filled with these, and it is a wonder
to most people that every one is not
80 afflicted, the laity conclude that
the germ theory is an absurdity and
contradiction. They do not con-
slider the element of fertile soil.
The germ is the same as a seed, and
all organic bodies are reproduced by
a seed. We must plant seed in soil
suitable for it, and the surroundings
heat and molsture-must be adapted
to 1t if it is to grow. As We descend
IN the scale of organic life, we find
that some of the lower animals can
hardly be distinguished from plants,
and these are reproduced not by seed,
tut by process Of division or budding.
A part Of the animal is divided and
separated. and forms a new animal.
AS We descend in the scale, We find
that instead OF seeds We have spores.
As in ferns; but these serve the pur
pose of seeds. and demand u fertile
soil before they can grow. Of many
million spores. but one or two may
serve their purpose; the rest die with.
out giving any result. As We descend
still lower, We find that fungi and
moulds need not only a fertile soil,
but a peculiar soil. and many Of them
will not grow except in or on another
organic body.
In medicine, q common example is
the ergot Of rye. Another is corn
smut. These, in addition to requiring
IA peculiar soil, undergo an "aiterna-
ton of generation" For example,
corn smut is first reproduced on the
barberry leaf as rust, and this rust
IN turn produces corn smut. The
theory OF disease germs is founded on
the knowledge Of the actions of the
lower animals and plants. The bacil-
lGs may be an animal or il NAV be a
plant, poisonous in itself or simply
Carrier OF contagion. 1t may even be
result of disease, and have nothing
to DO with its cause except as q foreign
body. Still as We find it present, and
hnd IT always present, We are uecess-
arily induced to believe that it is an
active agent, but in order to repro
duce itself it must have a fertile soil.
This it finds. as a rule, in a person
whose constitution Ia RIM down .,or,